Alcon's Travatanz cleared in Japan

US firm Alcon, says that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan has approved Travatanz (travoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.004% for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. This is said to be the first prostaglandin analog that is free of benzalkonium chloride, a commonly used preservative in topical ocular medications. Research suggests that chronic use of ophthalmic solutions containing BAC could negatively affect the ocular surface. Because glaucoma and ocular hypertension are chronic ocular conditions requiring daily treatment, Alcon developed Travatanz as a BAC-free version of its glaucoma therapy, Travatan solution. The new product has the same enduring efficacy as the original, which is marketed around the world, and was approved in the USA in 2006.

"Travatanz provides doctors with a new treatment option that may address an unmet need of many glaucoma patients, a prostaglandin analog without benzalkonium chloride," said Yoshiaki Kitazawa, director of the Akasaka Kitazawa Eye Clinic in Japan.